Dravid, Tendulkar shine in India's huge win
By Sify Sports Desk
Tuesday, 25 October , 2005, 16:06
Nagpur: Rahul Dravid made a smashing debut as the new Indian captain in the land of his in-laws, Nagpur, on Tuesday. With his batsmen and bowlers firing, Dravid, who also was named Man of the Match, had the joy of leading his side to a huge 152-run in the first of seven ODIs against Sri Lanka. Click here for detailed scores
The platform was laid by the talismanic Sachin Tendulkar. The little champion showed no signs of rustiness despite his long lay-off from the game for surgery. The zest was back, so was the hunger as he smashed 93 off just 96 balls after opening the Indian innings with Sehwag on a morning when Dravid won the toss and elected to bat. With Irfan Pathan (83 off 70 balls) and Dravid (85* off 63 balls) also joining in the fun, the hosts made 350 for six.
On a wicket that offered little assistance for the quicks, Sri Lanka made a thumping start to their chase despite losing skipper Marvan Atapattu for just one. Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya plundered 64 runs off 49 balls, but the early introduction of Harbhajan Singh threw the visitors' innings off the rails. The off-spinner consumed the wickets of both Jayasuriya (27 off 28) and Sangakkara (43 off 37) in the space of seven deliveries as the Lankans slumped from 74-1 to 76-3.
With Murali Kartik also getting into the act, Sri Lanka were never in the hunt from there on. There were a few lusty hits from Chaminda Vaas in the end, but debutant pacer Sree Santh returned to claim the last two wickets and seal an emphatic win.
It was the second time that Tendulkar was making a 93 at Nagpur. The 32-year-old, who underwent elbow surgery in May, was aggressive from the start.
He shared an entertaining 164-run second wicket partnership with youngster Irfan Pathan, who made 83 from 70 balls including eight fours and four sixes after being promoted up the order.
Once the two men fell in quick succession – within two runs of each other - Dravid took over and lashed an unbeaten 85 from 63 balls.
Tendulkar, who struck nine fours and two sixes and faced 96 balls, wore an elbow support but showed no discomfort, playing many lofted shots to frustrate the Sri Lankan bowlers.
He drove Farveez Maharoof through cover and flicked him past square leg for two fours off the second and third balls he faced.
Although Chaminda Vaas made an early breakthrough when he had Virender Sehwag (20) caught behind, Tendulkar lofted seamer Dilhara Fernando over mid-on for six and hit him for a straight four.
He swept off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for four and pushed him to midwicket for single to reach his 70th one-day fifty.
Tendulkar and Pathan kept up a run rate of well over six an over to bring up the 200 in the 31st over before the visitors briefly fought back.
Pathan was caught at mid-off against off spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan. Tendulkar, suffering from cramp, missed out on his 39th one-day hundred when he edged a wide ball from Maharoof to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara, who took a diving catch.
Dravid quickly settled down before playing an unusually attacking innings, the highlight of which was a stunning six over point off Vaas.
Tuesday, 25 October , 2005, 16:06
Nagpur: Rahul Dravid made a smashing debut as the new Indian captain in the land of his in-laws, Nagpur, on Tuesday. With his batsmen and bowlers firing, Dravid, who also was named Man of the Match, had the joy of leading his side to a huge 152-run in the first of seven ODIs against Sri Lanka. Click here for detailed scores
The platform was laid by the talismanic Sachin Tendulkar. The little champion showed no signs of rustiness despite his long lay-off from the game for surgery. The zest was back, so was the hunger as he smashed 93 off just 96 balls after opening the Indian innings with Sehwag on a morning when Dravid won the toss and elected to bat. With Irfan Pathan (83 off 70 balls) and Dravid (85* off 63 balls) also joining in the fun, the hosts made 350 for six.
On a wicket that offered little assistance for the quicks, Sri Lanka made a thumping start to their chase despite losing skipper Marvan Atapattu for just one. Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya plundered 64 runs off 49 balls, but the early introduction of Harbhajan Singh threw the visitors' innings off the rails. The off-spinner consumed the wickets of both Jayasuriya (27 off 28) and Sangakkara (43 off 37) in the space of seven deliveries as the Lankans slumped from 74-1 to 76-3.
With Murali Kartik also getting into the act, Sri Lanka were never in the hunt from there on. There were a few lusty hits from Chaminda Vaas in the end, but debutant pacer Sree Santh returned to claim the last two wickets and seal an emphatic win.
It was the second time that Tendulkar was making a 93 at Nagpur. The 32-year-old, who underwent elbow surgery in May, was aggressive from the start.
He shared an entertaining 164-run second wicket partnership with youngster Irfan Pathan, who made 83 from 70 balls including eight fours and four sixes after being promoted up the order.
Once the two men fell in quick succession – within two runs of each other - Dravid took over and lashed an unbeaten 85 from 63 balls.
Tendulkar, who struck nine fours and two sixes and faced 96 balls, wore an elbow support but showed no discomfort, playing many lofted shots to frustrate the Sri Lankan bowlers.
He drove Farveez Maharoof through cover and flicked him past square leg for two fours off the second and third balls he faced.
Although Chaminda Vaas made an early breakthrough when he had Virender Sehwag (20) caught behind, Tendulkar lofted seamer Dilhara Fernando over mid-on for six and hit him for a straight four.
He swept off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for four and pushed him to midwicket for single to reach his 70th one-day fifty.
Tendulkar and Pathan kept up a run rate of well over six an over to bring up the 200 in the 31st over before the visitors briefly fought back.
Pathan was caught at mid-off against off spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan. Tendulkar, suffering from cramp, missed out on his 39th one-day hundred when he edged a wide ball from Maharoof to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara, who took a diving catch.
Dravid quickly settled down before playing an unusually attacking innings, the highlight of which was a stunning six over point off Vaas.
posted by TILAK at 8:38 PM
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